This is the Proper Tooth Brushing Technique You Should be Using
26 September 2022Brushing teeth is part of most people’s daily routine, and it’s correct that any time spent brushing your teeth is better than none at all. However, we want those precious two minutes, twice a day, to be as efficient and effective as possible to ensure the best possible oral care for your mouth. Nobody wants to deal with the results of gum disease or tooth decay, yet many are unaware of what the proper tooth brushing technique you should use to help avoid this, or in fact that this also includes flossing. Follow our tips below to ensure you have a healthier mouth, as well as a whiter and brighter smile.
What do I need to use?
The general consensus amongst dentists is that electric toothbrushes are more effective than manual toothbrushes in removing plaque and keeping teeth and gums healthy. A mainstream brand such as Oral-B is a good option as they’re easily assessable and affordable. Having said that, it really boils down to what you’re comfortable with. If you find that electric toothbrushes are too abrasive or cause you discomfort, it would be first worth trying a softer brush head. But if that still doesn’t suit you, it’s more than possible to maintain an effective brushing technique with a manual toothbrush. Using a fluoride toothpaste with between 1,350 – 1,500ppm (parts per million) fluoride is also a key element to effective brushing. Besides this, you will also need to ensure you are…
Flossing
Flossing should always be the first part of your tooth brushing hygiene routine. Floss, or interdental toothbrushes work by sliding between the teeth to remove any build up of plaque which is the number one leading cause of gum disease. The longer that sticky substance or food remain between your teeth, the greater the chance it can erode your enamel and lead to gingivitis (the first stage of gum disease). Which to use depends on your circumstances, with floss being the more common product and interdental toothbrushes are more helpful if you have larger gaps in between your teeth. So how should you use floss or interdental toothbrushes?
Floss
- Pull out approximately 3-4cm of floss so that it is taut between your hands, with one hand on each end of the floss.
- Slip the floss in between the area of each of your teeth, as far up as it will go.
- Rub the floss with 8-10 strokes up and down to ensure you have removed as much food and plaque as possible.
- Ensure to use more floss if needed to prevent removed food or plaque from being redistributed to the rest of your teeth.
Interdental toothbrushes
- Take out the interdental toothbrush and proceed to place it in between the space between your teeth, but without forcing this too much.
- Push the interdental toothbrush as far up as is comfortable and proceed to rub in between the gap in your teeth 8-10 times.
- Ensure you rinse your interdental toothbrush to ensure that you do not redistribute removed food or plaque.
Brushing
Once you have removed any excess food between your teeth, it’s time to get brushing! Using a fluoride toothpaste, you should brush for two minutes, twice a day. Once in the morning, once before you go to bed. It’s important not to brush immediately after you’ve eating or drank. A good rule of thumb is to leave a 60 minute gap between finishing a meal to brushing your teeth.
- Tilt your toothbrush to a 45-degree angle in a circular motion and ensure you are not using too much pressure. Over Brushing can lead to your gums bleeding. Brush using short tooth wide strokes, this will help you slow down and ensure you pay each tooth the attention it needs.
- Begin with the outer facing surfaces of your teeth, preferably top before bottom. This ensures when you are cleaning your top teeth any more food residue does not drop down to your already clean lower teeth.
- Brush against your gum line to ensure any trapped food falls away.
- Proceed to the inner surface of your teeth (behind and the bottom of your teeth) this area is also just as susceptible to the build-up of plaque.
- Finally, brush your tongue. Your tongue can also contain leftover food which can lead to this being redistributed across your mouth and onto your teeth.
- Last, but not least, do not rinse straight away. This can remove the fluoride which you have just used which needs time to protect the enamel. Many people use mouthwash straight away, but this should be a supplement to your tooth brushing routine throughout the day rather than immediately after brushing.
We hope that this assists you in maintaining your dental hygiene routine, but if you have any questions or concerns you can always book an appointment with us by reaching out today.